October 2023 in Life, Books, and Blog #Monthlywrapup
Hello everyone! I expected October to turn out better than September but unfortunately, it began to go down the hill from the beginning. It sure affected my blog but I didn’t let it affect my reading. Not everything was grey and dark, some really good things happened that balanced out unsavory points. Here is how my October 2023 in Life, Books, and Blog was –
Table of Contents
October Highlights
– Best thing that happened in October is my kid is finally potty trained. We thought it might take a whole month but surprisingly her fear went away in two weeks. But those two weeks were terrific.
– Navartri was fun and amazing. I also won the runner-up prize for best female garba dancer.
– My birthday never goes as I plan it and is ruined for some reason every year. This year wasn’t different.
– My in-laws came back and this time they are staying for two whole months. (I already feel I might go mad and there is still another month to go. There is no sense of privacy in my own house now!)
– Every relative visiting my house, they give one look at my bookshelves and say “I would come again to borrow one of the books.” I don’t how to say this is not a public library. If you want a free book you should visit one. It took me fucking 5-6 years, my time, efforts, and money to collect these many books and they want them for free! Call me selfish but I wouldn’t share my books.
– One other good thing that happened is, I got the job. I’m starting it on Monday. It’s a kind of part-time and flexible job but I still don’t how much extra time I will get for reading and blogging.
October in Reading
Reading stats
Books Read – 10
Total Pages – 2875
Books I Read
The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is heartbreaking, ferocious, atmospheric and mindblowing historical fantasy with perfect autism/neurodivergent and queer representation. This is absolute masterpiece and I’m sure reading anything author writes. If you need a book for spooky season, look no further. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Faking Christmas is a delightful, heartwarming, entertaining, and fluffy Christmas romance with hate-to-love and fake marriage tropes. It’s perfect Christmas read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Girl in The Tower is an amazing sequel. The pace is steady but there is politics and adventure that keep the the plot engaging. I loved Vasya even more here. I couldn’t predict that the final twist and end is tragic. I don’t know what to expect in the final book of this trilogy. Review will be up on Sunday or next week.
Brutal Prince is quick, enjoyable, spicy, and dark enemies-to-lovers mafia romance with arranged marriage trope. Plot is predictable and I didn’t like Callum until the second half, and yet I enjoyed reading this. This was my first Mafia Romance and now I want to read more of them. ⭐⭐⭐.5
Stolen Heir is dark, twisted, and sensual mafia beauty and beast retelling with captive/captor trope. Except for Nessa being more complacent as a captive, everything in this book is spotless. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Savage Lover is a refreshing, thrilling, and action-packed mafia romance with fast and furious vibe. I gave this 4 stars just because I felt there was something missing, maybe because this wasn’t as dark and twisted as previous mafia books in this series. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Biji’s in the Kitchen is entertaining, super fun, and delightful children’s fiction with amazing message for not just kids but all readers. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Big Bad Fight is fun, lovely, cute and vividly illustrated short children’s fiction about friendship. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mahalaxmi Will Go to Mysore is lovely, entertaining, and beautifully written children’s fiction about friendship with an amazing message. I highly recommend this to all young readers. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Best Books of the Month
All the books were really good but these I loved the most. And my kid loved The Big Bad Fight the most.
October in Blog
Plans for November
None! Like the previous two months, I wouldn’t have enough time as lots of things are expected in life.
– There is Diwali so there goes one week with no expectation for any “me time”.
– As I said I got a new job so I have to adjust my routine and everything accordingly.
– There is a wedding in the family at the month’s end so I’ll be taking a hiatus from 24th to 30th as there is no point in stretching myself trying to do everything and with this new job, there is no full holiday. They said even for an hour you need to check emails and do the necessary task.
Thank you for reading! Let’s chat..,
How was your October? what are your plans for November?
Have you read any of these books or plan to?
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Books Teacup and Reviews
Hi, I'm Yesha, an Indian book blogger. Avid and eclectic reader who loves to read with a cup of tea. Not born reader but I don't think I’m going to stop reading books in this life. “You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.”
21 Comments
Hooked By That Book
Yay for the new job and potty training success. Good luck with your in-laws and everything. And hope November treats you better. Have a great week!
Books Teacup and Reviews
Thank you! 🧡
Judith L Post (Judi Lynn)
Glad a few good things happened in October. Hope you like your new job, and good luck with November!
Rosepoint Publishing
Sorry it’s been so crazy, but at least two good things came out of it. And it’s exciting to start a new job! Hang in there–November goes pretty quickly (well, over here anyway).
Books Teacup and Reviews
Thank you! I hope Nov passes pretty soon.
Lashaan Balasingam
Congrats on your new job and on your kid getting potty-trained! I did laugh at your comment about relatives wanting to borrow your books hahaha You’d probably never see your books again! 😛 I hope November will prove to be a good month for you.
Books Teacup and Reviews
Thank you, Lashaan! Relatives made paste a label on my shelves and I’m not kidding, i literally stick a note “I’m not lending”. They never really cared about my reading hobbies or blog and now they want books for free! 😒 my husband thinks that’s too much but he came around when I said whichever book I lend, you have to replace it. 😂
Teri Polen
Sorry your birthday didn’t go as you’d hoped, Yesha, but congrats on the job! And your daughter’s potty training! I remember when mine were finally trained – what a relief it was. And no more buying diapers! Hope the next month goes smoother – I know it’s difficult when family is staying.
Books Teacup and Reviews
Thank you, Teri! It’s huge relief and I’ve observed since being fully potty made her more independent. Life is much easier without diapers.
As for family staying, I would have liked it if they’re just happy spending time with us rather than being nosy and difficult. Don’t know about smooth but I hope this month goes faster. 😅
confessionsofayareader
Congrats on your new job! I hope it goes well for you.
Books Teacup and Reviews
Thank you, Kristi! 😃
Cathy
Hope the new job goes well 🤞🏼 For the rest, take a deep breath, it’ll be over soon x
Books Teacup and Reviews
Yeah, I’m trying. I’m really envious of people who can stay calm in all situations 😄. Thank you! 🧡
Cathy
I can’t do that either but I always tell myself to stop and take a breath…doesn’t work very often though 😉
Books Teacup and Reviews
Yes exactly so i try to divert my mind to something I like. That’s also hard when the problem is always in front of your eyes 😂
Tessa Pulyer
Congratulations on the job and being runner up in Garba dancing! And so sorry about your birthday and the extended invasion of your home – I know that’s tough. Your reaction to relatives treating saying they will be back to borrow books cracked me up. I know that must be frustrating for you. Good luck with everything this month!
Books Teacup and Reviews
Thank you, Tessa! 🧡 it literally feels invasive and even my husband isn’t happy about it but we can’t do anything about it except count the days. I hope those relatives don’t come back and if they do, I’m pasting big “I’m not lending books” note on the shelf. 😄
Inge | The Belgian Reviewer
Congrats with the new job! I hope it goes well. Well you’re halfway through the stay and I think you’re doing well since they’re still there 😆
Books Teacup and Reviews
😂 yeah because I’m reading mafia romance and characters are doing lots of killing for me. Thank you 🧡
nickimags @ Secret Library Book Blog
Congratulations on your new job and your daughter’s potty training as well! Hope the two months your in-laws staying with you goes quickly. I’d find it really hard having anyone staying in my home for that long. xx
Books Teacup and Reviews
Thank you, Nicki! It wouldn’t be hard if they weren’t so annoying and difficult and don’t forget very cunning. They look so innocent to people who don’t really know them. Hopefully we’ll get through this month faster than normal.